Hilton Flores/ Staten Island AdvanceCollege of Staten Island president Tomas Morales, center, and head baseball coach Mike Mauro, left, watch Mauro’s mother-in-law Julie Gaudioso throw out the first pitch before the game at the 7th Annual Grace Hillery Breast Cancer Awareness Night.Anthony Hillery has adjusted to living without his mother, but it’s still not an easy path to travel.

“She was my biggest fan and best friend,” said Hillery. “I was a 20-year-old kid who needed his mom and now I’m a 26-year-old guy who still needs his mom.”

Events like last night’s seventh annual Grace Hillery Breast Cancer Awareness Night go right to the heart of the former College of Staten Island infielder, who had a vision while still an undergraduate to honor his mother’s memory and raise money for a worthy cause.

The hometown Dolphins routed Drew University, 17-6, running their record to 27-9 and doing nothing to hurt their NCAA Division III tourney aspirations, while a record $5,736 was raised for the Staten Island Breast Cancer Research Insititute.

A robust crowd braved the chilly climate to cheer the Dolphins in a fundraiser that helped bring the seven-year total to more than $30,000 while enhancing its reputation as one of the most significant annual sports happenings at the CUNY Conference school.

“I seem to be surprised every year, but I shouldn’t be,” said Hillery, whose mother died of breast cancer early in 2004 at the age of 54. “I see a lot of the same faces every year and I’m really appreciative of everyone who comes out.

“It’s kind of taken on a life of its own.”

Hillery said that he tended to keep his deepest feelings hidden when his mother died, but as the years have passed he has been more willing to talk about his loss.

“She was the one person I would talk about things with ... the one person I always confided to no matter what the subject. Unfortunately, the person I needed the most wasn’t there anymore.

“I want people to know what a wonderful, strong person she was. I try to take the lessons she taught me and apply them even though she’s gone. I have great memories of her, and baseball was a bond between us.”

With his father, Frank Hillery, and a group of relatives in the stands, the ex-Dolphin player spent the night greeting the estimated 200 fans who attended the game.

They all got a good show from the Dolphins.

Leadoff man Devon DiCasoli went 4 for 6 while equalling the school’s career record for stolen bases. Joe Cassano went 3 for 5 with three RBI, and Henry Roman, Pat Gale, Sal Todaro, Cory Sullivan and Matt Oetting all had two hits.

CSI broke open a 3-1 game with five runs in the fourth and six runs in the fifth. Another three-spot in the sixth made it 17-1 behind starting pitcher Jeff Pontebbi, who worked 5-2/3 innings for the win.

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NOTES: CSI head coach Mike Mauro’s mother-in-law, Julie Gaudioso, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Hillery ... Drew athletic director Jason Fein, who worked at CSI from 1999-2008, presented a check from the school for $300 to launch the night’s fundraising ... Hillery is a social studies teacher at Petrides and JV baseball coach at New Dorp ... The top-seeded Dolphins begin their quest for the CUNY Tournament title tomorrow at 1 p.m. against Baruch at MCU Park (formerly KeySpan) in Coney Island ... CSI wore pink jerseys in honor of the breast cancer cause ... Drew dropped to 8-30.